AN IMPORTANT JOURNEY

Passage: Acts 20:1-6

Key verse: 1

NIV

Through Macedonia and Greece

20 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples(A) and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.(B) 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him(C) just as he was about to sail for Syria,(D) he decided to go back through Macedonia.(E) 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus(F) and Secundus from Thessalonica,(G) Gaius(H) from Derbe, Timothy(I) also, and Tychicus(J) and Trophimus(K) from the province of Asia.(L) 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us(M) at Troas.(N) 6 But we sailed from Philippi(O) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,(P) where we stayed seven days.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

20 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and (A)departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when (B)a plot was made against him by the Jews[a] as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, (C)Aristarchus and Secundus; and (D)Gaius of Derbe, and (E)Timothy; and the Asians, (F)Tychicus and (G)Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for (H)us at (I)Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after (J)the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 20:3 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 19
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Encouraging the disciples (1-3)

The believers in Ephesus knew that making a commitment to Christ was dangerous, for when they followed Jesus, they challenged the materialism and hedonism of the Ephesian culture. Though his life was in danger, Paul was not discouraged. He encouraged the believers in Ephesus, then in Macedonia to give generously to help the poor believers in Jerusalem (1Co 8; Ro 15). He arrived in Corinth (Greece) and stayed there three months. He probably wrote Romans while he was there.

2. The trip to Syria begins (4-6)

When Paul started to sail from Corinth to Syria, he learned of a Jewish plot to kill him. He decided to take the inland route and sail from Philippi. This enabled him to help the Macedonian believers complete the pledges they had promised. He would then go to Jerusalem to deliver the offering, taking with him representatives from the Gentile churches in Europe and Asia Minor.

Prayer: Lord, give me eyes to see how you used adverse circumstances to accomplish your own world mission purpose.

One Word: The best encouragement